A laboratory experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of Thepax and Endo Vit. C as feed additives in the formulated diet on the growth performance of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. The feed (30.11% crude protein) manufactured in the laboratory using raw local materials diet. Young grass carp (Average weight 3.36± 0.95 g) obtained from Aquaculture Unit ponds in Al-Hartha Station for Agricultural Researches, North Basrah. The fish were stocked in nine glass aquarium, three replicates for each treatment, of dimensions 60×40×30 cm provided with pumping aeration. The experimental diets included a control T1 (0% additives), T2 (1g Thepax/kg diet) and T3 (1g Endo Vit. C /kg diet) were used in feeding trail of current experiment. The experiment lasted for 57 days (from 29 Nov. to 24 Jan.) and fishes were fed six days a week using 5% of fish weight as feeding ratio. Results of current study reveals that grass carp fed on formulated feed supplemented with Endo vit. C having high growth performance (WG, DGR, RGR and SGR). The lowest Feed conversion ratio (2.511) was recorded in T3 this value was statistically significant (P≤0.05) with T2 while the highest value (2.767) was observed on the control. Protein efficiency ratio, feed intake and gross conversion efficiency were also recorded high values in T3, but control displayed superior values compared with Thepax treatment, which showed higher value of Relative feed intake compared to other two treatments.

Growth parameters of common carp Cyprinus carpio were investigated in 13 plastic tanks (550 cm diameter and 130 cm depth) of semi-closed system at Abu Al- Khaseeb District, Basrah from 27 October to 17 December, 2016. Number of fishes in every tank was 1300 with an average initial weight 101.9 g. Fishes were fed at a ratio of 5% on sinking pelleted food manufactured in Basrah University factory with 25% protein ratio. Results of current study exhibited highest final weight (381.1 g) achieved by fishes reared in tank number 1 and lowest (326.3 g) in tank number 2. Average fish weight increments for 13 tanks were 248.2 g, with highest weight increment (266.5 g) achieved by fishes reared in tanks 6 and 11, while lowest (222.3 g) achieved by fishes reared in tank number 7. Result also appeared average daily growth of 4.87 g/day, with highest (5.22 g/day) achieved by fishes reared in tanks 6 and 11 and lowest (4.36 g/day) achieved by fishes reared in tank number 7. Average specific growth rate for 13 tanks was 2.44 %/day, with highest (3.10 %/day) achieved by fishes reared in tank number 3 and lowest (1.99 %/day) achieved in tank number 1. Average food conversion rate (FCR) for 13 tanks was 2.12, with highest (2.55) achieved by fishes reared in tanks number 1 and lowest (1.74) achieved by fishes reared in tank number 3.

The current study aims to compare the growth of young grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella fed on either artificial diet or alfalfa. The experiment was carried out in the earthen ponds of the Aquaculture Unit in the Agricultural Researches and Experiments Station (College of Agriculture, University of Basrah), which is located in the Al-Hartha district, approximately 16 km north of Basra (300 65' 64.6''N, 470 74' 79.5''E). The experiment begun from 26 July 2019 to 10 December 2019. Six ponds with an area of 600 square meters each were used for treatments. Fish were distributed equally to the culture ponds (600 fish per pond) at average individual weight of 6.3±0.28 g. Fish in artificial diet treatment were fed 5 % of the body weight and in alfalfa treatment 50 % of the body weight. Samples of fish were weighed every twenty days for the purpose of controlling growth parameters subsequently adjusting the daily feed provided based on the new weight. The growth criteria (final weight, weight gain, daily growth rate, specific growth rate, relative growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio) were calculated. Results of the current study showed that the water temperature is the most variable factor, for example, the highest temperature was 27.2oC in July, while the lowest temperature was 18.7oC in December. Results of growth criteria of the current study showed that grass carp in earthen ponds preferred alfalfa rather than the artificial diet, as the final average weight were 97.35, 47.18 g, the weight gain rate were 91.73, 40.75 g fish-1, the daily growth rate were 1.27, 0.42 g day-1, relative growth rate 1707.77, 629.99 %, specific growth rate were 3.92, 2.04 % day-1, feed conversion ratio were 11.75, 2.51and protein efficiency ratio were 1.75, 0.45 for fish fed on alfalfa plant and the artificial diet respectively.

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The current experiment was conducted in the Agricultural Research Station-Aquaculture Unit, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah from 27th June to 10th Nov 2020 in Al-Hartha District about 16 km northern-east of Basrah Governorate (30o65`64.6"N, 47o 74`79.5"E). Six earthen ponds (600 m3) were used to investigate the effect of three different initial weights of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella [220.1-276.8 g (T1); 146.5-169.3 g (T2); 81.5-82.7 g (T3)]. Fishes were fed 3% daily using commercial pellets manufactured by Agricultural Consultant Office. The results of the current study indicated that T1 had better growth criteria (WI= 296.8 g, DGR= 2.53 g/day, SGR= 0.59%/day and FCR 5.23) compared with the other two treatments. There was a negative allometric pattern of growth (b less than 3) in the three treatments before and after the experiment. Statistical analysis of the results proved that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) in the modified condition factor (Kb) between the three treatments at the end of the experiment, while there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the relative condition factor (Kn) and Fulton’s condition factor (K). It was concluded from the current experiment that the initial average weight of the grass carp must not be less than 250 g to achieved good results for fish culturist.